Sharks rookie Tomas Hertl has successful knee surgery

ANAHEIM -- The Sharks announced that rookie forward Tomas Hertl had damage to the medial collateral and posterior cruciate ligaments in his right knee successfully repaired by surgery Tuesday but gave no indication how much time he would need to recover.

Hertl did not have any damage to his anterior cruciate ligament, however, presumably leaving the door open for Hertl's return before the end of the regular season.

The Sharks expect Hertl to make a full recovery.

The severity of Hertl's injury was discovered Tuesday when he was operated on by Cleveland orthopedic surgeon Dr. Anthony Miniaci.

San Jose Sharks Tomas Hertl (48) skates on the ice against Vancouver Canucks in the third period at SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2013. The Sharks rookie expects to miss about a month after suffering a knee injury Thursday, Dec. 19 in Los Angeles. (Josie Lepe/Bay Area News Group) (Josie Lepe / Bay Area News Group)

Hertl was injured Dec. 19 in a knee-on-knee collision with Los Angeles Kings captain Dustin Brown. Hertl had 15 goals and 10 assists up until that point and was a leading candidate for the Calder Trophy, given to the NHL's top rookie, and for a spot on the Czech Republic's Olympic team for Sochi in February.